Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-05-14
H SPORTING r
Important Changes in Base Ball Rules
-Doings of the Sports.

-Doings of the Sports.
Before the season is far advanced, Great
Falls may lave = fourishing base ball
club. The number of athletes here is 81
ready large and it will be reinforced when
the railroad engineers and contractors
come along. Some important changes
have been made since last year which
Great Falls sportsmen should know in adj
vance. These changes have been aceep-
ed by most clubs and are 10Y in general
use. The most radical changes are III
doubtedly in the rules governing pitching.
The code makes some radical changes in
the rules governing the delivery of the
ball to the bat. In the first place the
pitcher is now only allowed SO SEM in five
unfair balls before he becomes liable to
the penalty of giving the batsman his base
on balls, and the penalty is increased by
adding the charge OF d base-hit against
the pitcher every time a base is given ON
balls. Then, too, every time the pitcher
hts the batsman with a pitched ball, a
base is given the batsman as a penalty for
the error. The same penalty, too, is in
| Cured every time the pitcher commis a
balk, and the liability to balk is greatly
| increased under the new rules. 1t will be
| seen. therefore, that the pitcher has now
to guard against three costly errors in his
delivery, viz, those of sending the bats
man to his base On balls; for hitting him
| with a pitched ball and making a balk.
This largely increased responsibility at
tached tosthe position, however, IS offset
| by an important adv antage which the new
code grants to the pitcher, and that lies in
the throwing out Of the code the clause in
| the pitching rules which required the
| pitcher to send in balls "highh o Glow as
| the batsman choose to call for, such ahighn
balls being designated as balls passing the.
| batsman between his waist and shoulder,
and such slow ball as passed between his
knee AMI waist. This designated class of
balls the pitcher had to deliver, but they
were the most difficult for the umpire to
Judge correctly. Under a ne y code, Their :
fer !, a greater latitude is given the pitcher
in this respect, as he is now only C led
upon to send in balls not higher than the
Iatsman's shoulder nor lower han his
knee, and every ball is nog a fair ball
rovided, of course, that it st the same
time passes over the home base. This is
one of the most important and radical
changes made in the rules for some time
past, and, though it may bother a few bats
men at first, it will ultimately be of adyan-
tage to them. One benefit it yields is that
! of relieving the umpire of a very difficult
part of his duties, while at the same tine
it affords the pitcher greater facilities for
strategetic skill in his position.
In the method Of delivering the ball to
the bat will be found another important
amendment to the rules, and that is the
limiting the pitcher not only to a single
forward stepinthe immediate act deliver
ing the ball to the bat, but to a clearly de-
fined limit n regard to his method of
throwing to base to cath bsse runners
mapping off their bases. Under last years
rules thdapitcher could take my steps he
choose to make within the seven feet by
four space of his position. Moreover, he
could indulge in several effectual .feints te
throw to a base ssithou infringing the
balk lire. By a study Of these rules q
person will readily see that the pitcher is
prohibited from gathering force for the
delivery of the ball from anywhere but
his arm.
There heve also been important cha -ges
in the batting rnles.-As previously stated
5 the batsman has no choice of a ball, and II
obliged to bat a either a high or low one
1t was thought at first that this would ma
terially affect the hitting powers of som
of the heaviest batters. but SO far as the,
ha. e played this year they appeastopoun
! the ball til as much readiness as of yore
e Tie bat is held rather high in order tina
. the striker may be in readiness for tn
first ball pitched tver the plate at tn
height prescribed for a fair ball thus en-
a abling him to hit quickly and accuratel
n at either a high or low ball. Tie expert
enee of professional PLAYERS so far this ses
son has shown this to be the best posltio
as it has been found easier to strike dow
at a low ball than to raise the bat for hi
I ing at a high ball.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS.
Visner. Allen and Camel have been n
leased by the Minneapolis club.
= St. Louis and Baltimore are tied for fir
It place in the American association.
is The Milwaukee club defeated Dulu,
,e IN a we'll played game by : score OF to
h The St. Paul Chess club defeated Il
Minneapolis club in a series OF game
d Dannie .Needham Of st. Paul and jar
y Doris of Philadelphia, were to meet in
Ie 10-round glove contest in st. Paul, on Il
re 18th inst.
ae Fred C. pilisbury has declined to ser
as chairman Of the state fair committee
horse racing. e. G. Long of st. Pat "
81 act in his stead.
q Lime for Sale.
Ia We will have q quantity OF good lii
IN for sale in about ten days. Enquire
Canary & Shaw. q